Gary Payton traded to Boston

[BrianG103]

Article on Espn:

Here's the thing I like about Danny Ainge: He doesn't make the same mistake twice.

The Celtics hope Gary Payton's offensive skills haven't totally faded. On Friday, the Boston Celtics GM pulled off his best deal in 15 months on the job, signing restricted free-agent center Chris Mihm, then trading him to the Lakers with Chucky Atkins, Marcus Banks and a 2005 second-round pick. In return, the Celtics received Gary Payton, Rick Fox, a conditional No. 1 pick (lottery protected in 2005, top-10 protected in 2006, top-three protected in 2007, unprotected after that) and cash.

In the process, Ainge finally learned the best lesson you can learn as an NBA GM: Build around your core guys, dump everyone else who doesn't matter, clear as much cap space as you can. And that's what Ainge did. He didn't need Banks because the coaching staff loves (loves, LOVES) Delonte West. He didn't need Mihm because stud high schooler Al Jefferson is ready to play right away. He replaced Banks's value (as a former No. 1 pick) with the Lakers' pick. He's (hopefully) upgrading from Atkins to Payton. And he's bringing in two veterans whose contracts expire next summer.

 

Wow they sent Payton AND Fox away...Vanessa isn't going to like living in Beantown.

sb

 

[Railbird]

Great trade by Danny.

Gary Payton can still play, he shined early in the year this season when Kobe was absent, when Kobe was on the floor Laker chemistry was horrible.

Marcus Banks is a moron, ball pig who doesnt understand the game. Delonte can actually shoot the ball unlike other nba players.

 

[go2guy]

Sport, Vanessa won't care either way. Her and Rick are splitsville and headed to divorce court. She is one fine ass older chic if you ask me.

 

[BuckNaked]

Good trade for both teams.

 

Wow didn't know that go...I think those Radio Shack commercials are burned into my brain.

As for the fine ass older chic comment...agree with you 100 percent.

sb

 

[RobFunk]

this is terrefic news, plus Raef is coming back healthy. finnaly, finnaly a Celtics team I can be happy with. lots of dynamics to explore here, an really siked to have Doc Rivers as Coach.

C lafrentz
F mcarty
F pierce
G ricky davis
G Gary Payton

bench
Rick Fox
Jeri Welsh
Mark Blount
Dana Barros
and 4 rookies and 2 1 yr players they will have to sift through

 

Rob is this enough for the Boston media to get off Nomar's back?

sb

 

[picasso]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by RobFunk:
this is terrefic news, plus Raef is coming back healthy. finnaly, finnaly a Celtics team I can be happy with. lots of dynamics to explore here, an really siked to have Doc Rivers as Coach.

C lafrentz
F mcarty
F pierce
G ricky davis
G Gary Payton

bench
Rick Fox
Jeri Welsh
Mark Blount
Dana Barros
and 4 rookies and 2 1 yr players they will have to sift through <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Celts better hope the rookies produce quickly as this is otherwise one ugly looking team. Payton has little left to offer and is now even a liability defensively. Ricky Davis doesn't play d and only cares about his own numbers. Payton and Davis will be feuding in no time. Lafrentz and McCarty are big guys who prefer to play on the perimeter. Blount will probably start actually as he's coming off a nice season and is the Celts only true center. As for the bench, Fox may retire. If not, he should. Barros presumably has retired again. Welsch is ok. Ainge seems determined to turn Boston into a Mavs-style team. But, despite much more talent, it didn't work for Dallas. As I said, the Celts are gonna need a lot of production from the young guys to give Pierce some help as they try to outscore their opponents, while getting dominated on the inside.

 

[RobFunk]

good article about the trade here:http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/040806

picasso, theyre saying these rookies the C's landed are all very good. things are definatly looking up for the C's. from the above article:

"...One thing's for sure: The Celtics are in pretty good shape in the putrid East, all things considered. They nailed the draft in June. Just crushed it. After watching the Summer League in Vegas, everyone agrees that Allen, West and Jefferson should have gone higher, and Jefferson (picked No. 15) could have gone in the top six (you think Atlanta would rather have A.J. or Josh Childress???). The Celtics believe that they picked up three potential starters, as well as a potential franchise guy in Jefferson, and you know what? After watching them playing summer-league ball, I agree with them. Allen looks like the next Ron Artest; West looked like one of those throwback guys from the '80s; and Jefferson looked ready to add his name in succession to the Moses-Kemp-KG-Amare group. We'll see.

They also have a genuine All-Star in Pierce, still getting over his funk from Ainge's housecleaning last season, but enthused by the rookies in Vegas. During one summer-league game, he started offering them $100 a dunk, quickly followed by Allen (just an electric talent) getting two straight steals and two breakaway dunks. After the second one, he even pointed at Pierce as he ran back up the court. This just feels like a different team -- younger, hungrier, infinitely more athletic. With GP, Pierce, Allen and Davis on the same team, the potential for chest-bumping and trash-talking is off the charts. ..."

 

[picasso]

They will definitely need the rookies to live up to expectations. The Clippers have gone this route for years and failed. High-schoolers not named Lebron typically don't produce right away, so it may be optimistic to expect a lot out of Jefferson next season. West and Allen are guards. Pierce will play 40 minutes. Payton will pout if he doesn't get 35 minutes. Hard to say what will happen with Davis, but if Pierce/Payton/Davis get the bulk of the minutes, it will take time for West and Allen to get their chance. The Celts need a lot of help up front. 2004-2005 could be ugly. Payton and Fox (and their salaries) are gone after next season. If the rookies live up to their potential, 2005 and beyond may look brighter, but that's a big 'if' in the NBA world. Again, see the Clippers.